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Nov. 29, 1927.` 1,650,968

v. TEDESCHI CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed May l5. 1924 In/whim Patented Nov. 29, 1927. 'i

UNIT ED Y viaenio" TEDESCHI', lor Buenos Aims; aaciiivrmie n oiaoiiir appiiuatimf fue@ may 15,1924, sei-iai No.

Terrible-asis the destruction,wrought by Y the earthquake proper-,the fires which Jiolio low asa-most unavoidable consequencethereojltoften'cause more losses inlii'eand'homes. f

Such fires are difficult if not impossible-to ez(- tingiuish,by reason ofthe numerous centers ofnorigin and the confusion result-in gctherei from andlalso due to theV breaking ofthe water mains. 4 y

Experience has shown that most of such lires have resulted from the breaking of live wires inside the buildings which results in the formation of short circuits and from the ignition of the gas escaping from broken pipes.

- In order to avoid such results I propose the use of very simple devices by means of which the electric current and gas supply may be automatically cut olf, said'safety de-y.. vices being put inoperation by a seismic disturbance of a predetermined extent. Y Said devices should be placed outside ,of

the buildings, a device being connected with each ofv the electric or gas main supplies; Similar devices `might be also advantageously used in the outgoing mains of the elec-v tric and gas works. j

. An individual apparatus for the separate buildings should always be used, particularly in the ease of gas cut-oui devices Jfor the reason that even after the gas has been cutoff' at the main center of supply, the residual pressure in the big pipes would be sufficient Vto cause a dangerous escape. Furthermore, for both cases of gas and electricity the use of an individual apparatus for each separate building allows an immediate renewal of the supply without a total revision of the electric and gas installations, of a cit-y, the individual valves, being 1 then successively closed after ascertaining that each individual installation is in order. Y

My present inventionV may be carried into practice under different embodiments, according to their use and to its variable conditions, all of said embodiments being based on the dislodginent of a weight due to inertia and 55 gravity, said dislodgment originating, either chosen.

713,625, and in. talyFebruary 12,1924.

directly or' through 4mechanical means to -thus cut oli the supply oi. gas or electricity.

Inorderthat my present invention maybe 4clearly understood and easily Vcarried, into practice, somepret'erred embodiments thereofhave; beenfshown inV the accompanying drawings, whereini` y y Figure .Lisliows a device by which incase Yot an earthquakeor a. similar seismic ,dis-

turbance the electric circuit is cut oii.

Figure 2 showsa modification of' saidi device.

Figure 3 is afurther embodiment in wliich the weight to be dislodgedi normally closes the electric circuit. 'Y

Figure 4 shows a further modiicationin which the dislodgeable weight is placed at the end of a vertical arm, said arm normally closing the electric circuit as will behereafter explained.

Similar characters of reference denote -same or like parts throughout the said drawings.

In the embodiment shown in Figure l, the

device consists of an arm or lever member l` .supported at one of its ends by a spring connection2 on a base 3. Said arm carries a contactmember 4 to which one of the terminals 6 of the circuitfis fixed. Said contact is adapted to cooperate with a` stationary contact member 5 to which the other terminal 7 of the circuit is connected. The lever arm 1 is provided near its free end with a suitable seat 8 o n which the weight 9 is adapted to normally rest in stable equilibrium, so as to` close the circuit between the contacts 4L and 5. VIn the event of `an earthquake or like Y seismic disturbance of s ulicient extent causing a sudden shock or jar to the building or Vother supportof the apparatus the weight 9 vwill be shaken from its seat 8, thus allowing the spring 2 to act and break the connection between the contacts 4 and rwhereby the circuit is interrupted.v

kThe embodiment shown 'in Figure 2 does 4not lsubstantially differ from the above eX- cept for the fact that the lever member 1 carries a bridge 4 with two contacts dipping into mercury cups 5 to which the terminals 6 and 7 are connected. The working of the device corresponds to the above and needs no further description. 1 v

Fig. 3 is another embodiment of the same principle. .The gravity actuated body 9 normally closes the circuit between the twoV uplll() right Contact members 20 and 21 mounted on the base 3 Iand suitably insulated trom each other as shown by 10. The upper' ends of said upright contacts form a seat for the said body 9 which is of conductive inatierial; the operation ot which is obvious,

Fig. 4- shovvs a further modified embodiment, in which the weight 9 is suitably ixed to the top oit a vertical stem l the lower end of whieh being iXed by a sott solder or other weak connection il tio the terminals l2 ot the wire terminals 6 and 7. In case ot any seismical disturbance of a predetermined eX- tent, the leverage provided by the stem l will cause the weight 9 to break the stem off at its weakest point 1.1 and thus interrupt', the circuit between the contacts l2.

It is obvious that, on the same principle and within the scope ot my present invention which has been clearly set forth in the appended claimingl clause, many other embodiments may be constructed and used.

The re-establishment ot the electrical circuits is obvious and needs no further description.

It is obvious as aforesaid, that the invention is in no way limited to the particular' embodiments, thereof shown and described and that many others may be devised and adopted without departing Yfrom the scope of the invention which has been clearly set forth in the appended claiming clause.

flaving now fully described and ascertained the nature of my present invention and in what manner the saine is to be car- VIRGILIO TEDESCHI. 

